Folding box



April-13;- 1943. D. LEVKOFF\ 2,316,261

FOLDING BOX K Filed Jan. 15, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 24 W0 LEV/KOF/INVENTOR D. LEVKOFF 2,316,261

FOLDING BOX I Fi1 ed Jan. 1 1941 2 sheetsrsheet 2 Y 04 W0 Afwror/iINVENTQR Patented Apr. 13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in folding boxes.

The primary object of the invention resides in a cardboard box which maybe collapsed into a fiat condition for compact storing and shipping, andwhich may be expeditiously set up for use as the occasion arises.

Another feature of the invention resides in a folding cardboard boxwhich may be instantly erected from a flat folded collapsed position bygrasping the end walls of the box and swinging them to their verticalupstanding position, whereupon the other walls of the box are drawn intoand automatically locked in their related positions.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a collapsible boxhaving the above features which is constructed from a single blank ofcardboard which is cut, scored, folded, and metal stitched in a novelmanner to make the same simple and inexpensive of manufacture, and rigidwhen set up for use.

Other features of the invention will become apparent as the followingspecification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure l is a plan view of the blank from which the box is constructed.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the box in collapsed position with thecover extended.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the box in collapsed position with thecover folded over the flattened body portion of the box.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the box set up for use with the coveropen.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary Vertical longitudinal sectional view on theline 6-6 of Figure 4, with the cover in closed position.

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 1-! ofFigure 4, with the cover in closed position.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters the numeral l0designates a blank of cardboard from which my improved folding box isconstructed. The blank I9 is cut and scored to provide a bottom wall H,separated from the front wall l2 by a longitudinal fold line [3, and arear wall It which is separated from the bot-. tom wall by alongitudinal fold line l5. Transverse fold lines Iii-l6 separate theends of the bottom wall H from like end walls 11-, and extending beyondthe end walls l'l-il and foldable on the fold lines l8-l8 are inwardlyfold able flaps l3-l9 having round corner edges. The front wall l2 has alongitudinal flap 20 formed integral therewith and which is providedwith round corner edges and is adapted to be folded inwardly on thelongitudinal fold line 2|.

Rear corner webs 22-22 are provided at onposite ends of the rear wall.It and are folded inwardly on the fold lines 23-23, which are disposedin alinement and form a continuation of the transverse fold linesIii-l6. The rear corner webs 22-22 are integral with the rear ends ofthe end walls I'l-l'l along the fold lines 24-23, which fold lines arecontinuations of the fold line 15. Each corner web 22 is divided by adiagonal fold line 25 into a pair of like triangular shaped web sections26 and 21, which sections fold upon themselves when the box is in a setup position for use. The diagonal fold lines 25 extend from the rearcorners of the bottom wall H to the respective diagonally oppositecorners of the webs. Formed integral with each web section 23 is anelongated pocket flap 28 having an attaching portion or tab 29 extendingbeyond the free side edge of the web 22 of the blank iii. The flaps23-28 have their inner free corners rounded and are inwardly foldable onthe respective fold lines 30-30.

Formed integral with the front ends of the end walls ll-ll are frontcorner webs 3l-3I which fold inwardly on fold lines 32-32 which arecoextensive with the longitudinal fold line l3. The front corner webs3l-3l are free of the front wall l2 and each web has its inner edge 33cut at an angle with respect to the opposite outer edge, which outeredge is in alinement with the outer edge of the rear corner web 22, and

fold line l8. Each front corner web 3| is divided by a diagonal foldline 34 into a triangular shaped web section 35 and a four sidedattaching section 36. The fold line 34 extends from the front corneredge of the bottom wall II to the outer side edge of the corner web 3|,but short of the free end thereof, whereby a portion of the attachingsection 36 will extend beyond the sides of the triangular web section 35when the corner web 3! is folded on the diagonal fold line 34.

Formed integral with the top of the rear wall it along the longitudinalfold line 31 is a cover 33 having a front flap 39 foldable on thelongitudinal fold line 40.

After the blank It has been out and scored in the manner hereinbeforeexplained, it is partially folded and stitched in a novel manner now tobe explained and as clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

Assume that the blank l3 shown in Figure 1 has its inner side face up.The first step is to fold the front corner web flaps 3l-3l on the lines34-34. To accomplish this, the attaching web sections 36-36 are foldedupwardly and over the section 35-35, after which the end walls Il-ll andrear corner webs 22-22 are folded inwardly on the fold lines iii-l6 and23-23. This operation causes the attaching sections 36-36 of the frontwebs to lie fiat against the front wall l2 and to extend inwardly beyondthe edges of the triangular web fold sections 35-35. The flaps 28-28 arefolded inwardly over the respective corner webs 22-22, whereupon theattaching portions 29-29 extend inwardly beyond the inner side edges ofthe webs 22-22. The flap 20 is folded inwardly over the folded frontcorner webs 3i, and the blank is now folded in position to be stitchedand metal staples or stitching 4i passes through the extension portions29 f the flaps 28 and through the rear walls i l, and similar staples orstitching 52 passes through the flap and the attaching sections 38-36 ofthe front corner webs Ell-3|.

To unfold the blank from the position shown in Figure 2, it is onlynecessary for an operator to grasp the flaps l9-l 9 and/or end wallslT-l? and pull outwardly thereon which causes the end walls to move tovertical position. As the end walls l'l-ll are swung outwardly, the rearcorner webs 22-22 fold on the diagonal fold lines whereas the frontcorner webs 3l-3i unfold on the fold lines 34. The rear pocket flaps 28and the front pocket flap 2D flex outwardly as the corner webs move totheir opening position and when the corner webs reach their finalposition, the folded sections 21-21 are received beneath the pocketflaps 23-28 and the front corner webs 22-22 unfold and engage beneaththe front corner flap 20 as best illustrated in Figure 5 of thedrawings. With the corner webs locked beneath the flaps 23 and 23, thebox assumes the set up position shown in Figure 4. The side flaps 19-!!!may now be folded inwardly, and when it is desired to close the body ofthe box, the cover 38 is swung down and the flap 39 is inserted inwardlyof the front wall of the box so as to lie against the inwardly foldedlocking flap 2%. The inwardly extending side flap Ill-I9 act to supportthe cover 38 at its opposite ends.

To collapse the box from its set up position, the cover 39 is swung openand the operator proceeds to pull outwardly on the end walls H-ll whichcauses the corner webs to flex the pocket flaps 23-28 and the ends ofthe front locking flaps 20 away from the adjacent walls of the box topermit of the unfolding of the rear corner webs 22 and for the foldingof the front corner webs 3|, whereupon the box assumes the flatcollapsed position shown in Figure 2. Should it be desired to morecompactly fold the collapsed box, the same may be folded on the alinedscore lines 15 and 24 to the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Whereas I have shown and described the pocket flaps 28 and the frontlock flaps 2% as being secured by metal staples or stitching, the samemay be glued if desired. However, I have found that metal staples orstitching provides a more positive and inexpensive means of attachingthe inner ends of the pocket flaps 28-28 to the rear wall and theattaching sections -36 of the front corner webs and the pocket flap 2!)to the front wall.

By reason of the construction herein shown and described, it is possiblefor me to construct a collapsible cardboard box with a cover, at lesscost than heretofore, for there is a minimum amount of waste whencutting the blank A from the stock material.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A collapsible box comprising a single lanl;

of cardboard cut, scored and folded to provide a rectangular shapebottom wall, end walls hinged to said bottom wall, front and rear wallshinged to said bottom wall, a pair of rear foldable corner webs hingedto the rear ends of said end walls, each of said rear corner webs havinga diagonal fold line dividing the same into an attaching section and atriangular shape web fold section having a free edge, pocket flapsconnected to the attaching sections of said rear corner webs along hingescores and being foldable inwardly thereover, fastening tabs integralwith the outer ends of the pocket flaps extending beyond the plane ofsaid free edge, said attaching sections lying flat against the innerside of said rear wall, means securing the fastening tabs of said pocketflaps to the rear wall, a pair of front foldable corner webs hinged tothe front ends of said end walls, each of said front corner webs havinga diagonal line dividing the same into an attaching section and a webfold section having a free edge, the attaching section of said frontcorner webs fitting flat against the inner side of said front wall, afront pocket flap folded inwardly from the top edge of said front walland overlying said front corner webs, means securing the inner endportions of the attaching sections of said front corner webs and thefront pocket flap fiat against the front wall, whereby the free edges ofthe triangular shaped web fold sections of the front and rear cornerwebs flex the pocket flaps outwardly to enable portions of the web foldsections to interlock with the respective front and rear pocket flapswhen the box is in set up position, and a cover hinged to the top of therear wall for overlying the open top of the body of the box when thecover is in closed position thereover.

2. A corner lock construction for collapsible cardboard boxes having arectangular shaped bottom wall, adjacent side and end walls integralwith the bottom wall and connected to the side and end edges thereofalong hinge scores, a square shaped corner web integral with theadjacent ends of the side and end walls and connected thereto alonghinge scores, a diagonal hinge score extending across the corner webfrom the corner of the bottom wall to the opposite corner of the web andwhich divides the same into a triangular attaching web section and afoldable lock web section, a pocket flap integral with the top edge ofthe attaching web section and connected thereto along a hinge scoredisposed in alinement with the top edge of the side wall, a tabextension integral with the pocket flap and projecting beyond the planeof the free edge of the foldable lock web section, said end wall beingfolded inwardly over the bottom wall and said corner web being flatlyfolded over the adjacent end portion of the side wall, said pocket flapbeing folded inwardly over a portion of the corner web to lap a freeedge portion of the lock web section and to cause the tab extension toproject beyond the free edge portion to lap the adjacent portion of theside wall, and a staple passing through the tab extension and side Wallfor securing the same together, whereby outward swinging movement of theend wall to vertical position will cause the free edge of the lock websection to forcibly flex the Pocket flap outwardly and swing the sidewall to vertical position and subsequently permit the lock web sec tionto assume a locked position intermediate the attaching web section andthe locking flap.

DAVID LEVKOFF.

